The Iron Horse (1924)
Reference View | Change View
- Passed
- 2h 30min
- Drama, History
- 04 Oct 1925 (USA)
- Movie
After witnessing the murder of his father by a renegade as a boy, the grown-up Brandon helps to realize his father's dream of a transcontinental railway.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| George O'Brien | ... |
Dave Brandon
|
|
| Madge Bellamy | ... |
Miriam Marsh
|
|
| Charles Edward Bull | ... |
Abraham Lincoln
|
|
| Cyril Chadwick | ... |
Jesson
|
|
| Will Walling | ... |
Thomas Marsh
|
|
| Francis Powers | ... |
Sgt. Slattery
|
|
| J. Farrell MacDonald | ... |
Cpl. Casey
(as J. Farrell Macdonald)
|
|
 |
Jim Welch | ... |
Pvt. Schultz / Pvt. Mackay
(as James Welch)
|
|
|
George Waggner | ... |
Buffalo Bill Cody
(as George Wagner)
|
| Fred Kohler | ... |
Deroux
|
|
|
|
James A. Marcus | ... |
Judge Haller
(as James Marcus)
|
| Gladys Hulette | ... |
Ruby
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Chief John Big Tree | ... |
Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
|
|
| Chris Willow Bird | ... |
Indian (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Danny Borzage | ... |
Worker (uncredited)
|
| George Brent | ... |
Worker (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Milton Brown | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
|
|
|
Thomas Carr | ... |
Rail Worker (uncredited)
|
| Peggy Cartwright | ... |
Miriam as a Girl (uncredited)
|
|
| Colin Chase | ... |
Tony - Italian Worker (uncredited)
|
|
| Harvey Clark | ... |
Dentist-Barber (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Elmer Dewey | ... |
Worker (uncredited)
|
|
|
John Webb Dillion | ... |
Tall Woodsman in Prologue (uncredited)
|
|
|
Thomas Durant | ... |
Jack Ganzhorn (uncredited)
|
|
|
Bob Fleming | ... |
Worker (uncredited)
|
| Willie Fung | ... |
Chinaman (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jack Ganzhorn | ... |
Thomas C. Durant (uncredited)
|
| James Gordon | ... |
David Brandon Sr (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Ed Jones | ... |
Henchman (uncredited)
|
| Tiny Jones | ... |
Tiny Woman Who Wants a Divorce (uncredited)
|
|
| Sid Jordan | ... |
Gunfighter (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Dick La Reno | ... |
Woker (uncredited)
|
|
|
Delbert Mann | ... |
Charles Crocker (uncredited)
|
| Robert Milasch | ... |
Hell on Wheels Bartender (uncredited)
|
|
| Winston Miller | ... |
Davy as a Boy (uncredited)
|
|
| Pat Moriarity | ... |
Rail Worker (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Charles Newton | ... |
Collis P. Huntington (uncredited)
|
|
|
Herman Nowlin | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
|
| John M. O'Brien | ... |
Dinny (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Charles O'Malley | ... |
Maj. North (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jack Padjan | ... |
Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)
|
| Edward Peil Sr. | ... |
Old Chinese Railroad Worker (uncredited)
|
|
| Jack Richardson | ... |
Union Officer at White House (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Vinegar Roan | ... |
Henchman (uncredited)
|
| Walter Rodgers | ... |
Gen. Dodge (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Harold D. Schuster | ... |
Worker (uncredited)
|
| Tom Smith | ... |
Cowhand (uncredited)
|
|
| Charles Stevens | ... |
Indian (uncredited)
|
|
| Frances Teague | ... |
Polka Dot - Dance Hall Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Stanhope Wheatcroft | ... |
John Hay (uncredited)
|
|
|
Greg Whitespear | ... |
Sioux Chief (uncredited)
|
| Leo Willis | ... |
Gunman in Saloon (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Chief Eagle Wing | ... |
Indian (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| John Ford | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Charles Kenyon | ... | (story) and |
| John Russell | ... | (story) |
| Charles Kenyon | ... | (scenario) |
| Charles Darnton | ... | (titles) |
Produced by
| Kevin Brownlow | ... | producer |
| John Ford | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| David Gill | ... | producer |
| Patrick Stanbury | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| John Lanchbery | ... | (1995) |
| William P. Perry | ... | (1974) |
| Erno Rapee | ... | (uncredited) (1924) |
Cinematography by
| George Schneiderman | ... | (photography) |
Editorial Department
| Nick Adams | ... | telecine engineer |
| Martin Gent | ... | on-line editor |
| Harold D. Schuster | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Edward O'Fearna | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Frank Powolny | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| William S. Darling | ... | art department supervisor (uncredited) |
| R.L. Hough | ... | property master (uncredited) / props (uncredited) |
| Herbert Plews | ... | assistant props (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Burnett Guffey | ... | additional photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| John Lanchbery | ... | orchestrator: 1974 re-release |
Additional Crew
| William Fox | ... | presenter |
| Karl Malkames | ... | restorator |
| Harold D. Schuster | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| George Stephenson | ... | dedication: to the honour and memory of the Scottish engineer |
Production Companies
- Fox Film Corporation (presents: A John Ford Production)
Distributors
- Fox Film Corporation (1924) (United States) (theatrical)
- Fox Film Company (1925) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as Fox Film Company, Ltd.)
- Fox Film Company (1926) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Fox Film Company, Ltd.)
- Fox Film Corporation (1926) (Australia) (theatrical)
- BFI Video (1997) (United Kingdom) (VHS) (150m version)
- Critics' Choice Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Critics' Choice Video (1997) (United States) (VHS) (119m version) (Critics' Choice Video Masterpiece Collection)
- BFI Video (2002) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (theatrical) (133m version / thin pack included with "Ford at Fox: The Collection")
- Twentieth Century Fox (2007) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- BFI Video (2007) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (150m version)
- British Film Institute (BFI) (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Eureka Entertainment (2011) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- KSM (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- Twilight Time (2020) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Channel Four (in association with)
- City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (music recorded at: FHS Studio, Prague) (1995 version)
- Photoplay Productions (in association with)
- Twentieth Century Fox (presents: a newly tinted print of John Ford's epic 1924 western) (1995 version)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Springfield, Illinois. Brandon, a surveyor, dreams of building a railway to the west, but Marsh, a contractor, is sceptical. Abraham Lincoln looks on as their children, Davy Brandon and Miriam Marsh, play together. Brandon sets off with Davy to survey a route. They discover a new pass which will shave 200 miles off the expected distance, but they are set upon by a party of Cheyenne. One of them, a white renegade with only two fingers on his right hand, kills Brandon and scalps him. Davy buries his father... Years pass. It is 1862 and Lincoln signs the bill authorizing construction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways. Marsh is principal contractor and Miriam is engaged to Jesson, the chief engineer... Crews of Chinese, Italians, and Irish work to build the railway while resisting Indian attack. When the pay train is delayed by Indian ambush, the Italians go on strike. Miriam persuades them to return to work... Marsh needs to find a shortcut through the Black Hills. To finish on time, he needs to shorten the route by 200 miles. Bauman, the biggest land owner, wants the route to stay the same - through his land. Marsh has entrusted Jesson with finding the new route. Bauman has Ruby, a saloon girl, persuade Jesson to do otherwise... Davy, now a pony express rider, recalls his father's discovery. He sets off to find the pass. He goes alone, except for Jesson... Written by David Steele |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | THE WEDDING OF THE RAILS! ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST THRILLING HISTORICAL DEEDS--THE DRIVING OF THE LAST SPIKE FOR THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD (original ad - all caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $280,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The kitchen staff for the film was made up largely of Chinese cooks. Some of them had been workers on the transcontinental railroad in 1869, the same construction project that forms the basis of this film. See more » |
| Goofs | The locomotives and rolling stock are using knuckle-type couplers which did not begin wide use until the 1890's. In the 1860's era setting of this movie, the couplers in use would have been link and pin. This anachronism is understandable as the safety issue would have prohibited the use of the era appropriate link and pin couplers. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Story of Our Flag (1939). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Blow the Man Down See more » |
| Quotes |
Thomas Marsh:
[after he older Brandon has verbalized his dream of a trancontinental railroad]
Poor dreamer - he's chasing a rainbow. Lincoln: Yes, Tom - and some day men like you will be laying rails along that rainbow. See more » |